Marshall seeks to ban gays from Virginia National Guard

By
Anita Kumar

Following this weekend's vote by the Senate to allow gays to openly serve in the military, Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince WIlliam) said he is drafting a bill for the 2011 legislative session that would ban them from serving in the Virginia National Guard.

"This policy will weaken military recruitment and retention, and will increase pressure for a military draft,'' Marshall said. "After 232 years of prohibiting active, open homosexuals from enlisting in our military, President Obama and a majority in Congress are conducting a social experiment with our troops and our national security...In countries where religions and cultures find homosexual acts immoral, the Obama administration's repeal policy will work to the detriment of all American troops in securing local cooperation with our nation's foreign policy goals."

The Senate's vote to repeal the 17-year-old federal ''don't ask, don't tell' policy came a week after the House approved it. President Obama has said he will sign the bill.

Marshall, who is considering running for U.S. Senate in 2012, is one of the House's most conservative members. He said Article 1, Section 8, Clause 16 of the Constitution gives Virginia the authority to uphold the ban by "reserving to the states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress."

"The Constitution never would have been ratified if states were not reserved unqualified control of the militia, now called the National Guard," he said.

But Claire Guthrie Gastanaga, general and legislative counsel for Equality Virginia, which advocates for gay rights, said the National Guard is is subject to the same rules as other federal military units.

"Any state statute seeking to set different standards for the Virginia National Guard would be a nullity with no effect,'' she said. "It is a shame that Delegate Marshall would dishonor the brave men and women serving in our National Guard by seeking to make political points at their expense and waste the time of his colleagues in the Virginia General Assembly who have pressing matters to attend to like balancing the budget and finding solutions to the traffic problems that are the real and present concern of his constituents."

Perversely, I hope Marshall pursues this line of attack. The more homophobic, right-wing nut jobs try to make political hay out of fear-mongering, the older it gets. Maybe, finally, the average voter will just get plain tired of the sky-is-falling rhetoric and vote these sad, pathetic doofuses (doofi?) out of office. They know only how to be divisive and are simply not smart enough to govern in these difficult times.

Bob Marshall is a pathetic piece of s**t who I hope gets cancer and dies. He does not care about the real problems facing the people of this state, and how those idiots keep electing him in his district shows what stupid fools they are.

I find Delegate Marshall's point confusing. The clause of the Constitution that he invokes says explicitly that the states had to abide by the rules of discipline set by Congress for the United States armed forces.

Congress has determined that America will be stronger with gay and straight soldiers. The rules of discipline by which states have to abide have been established.

" find Delegate Marshall's point confusing. The clause of the Constitution that he invokes says explicitly that the states had to abide by the rules of discipline set by Congress for the United States armed forces.

Congress has determined that America will be stronger with gay and straight soldiers. The rules of discipline by which states have to abide have been established.

Therefore Delegate Marshall has no case.

"

****

Like our Constitution means anything to these a holes. They only invoke it when it suites their needs.

In those same countries in question, "liberated" women are still very much a crime as well. Does that mean we should make women serve "in the closet"? Tell the women in the armed services that they can not be openly women if they want to serve. The more you unaccepting closed minded people say the more it shows that these prejideses are long outdated

Pin those wings upon my chest
Mark me as America's best
Though have to say, that I am gay
I defended the U.S. the American way

Yes I served, did so for 20 years, and YES I am also gay. The brave men and women serving this country are far more accepting that what most of you who are fighting to keep gays out of the military are.

In those same countries in question, "liberated" women are still very much a crime as well. Does that mean we should make women serve "in the closet"? Tell the women in the armed services that they can not be openly women if they want to serve. The more you unaccepting closed minded people say the more it shows that these prejideses are long outdated

Pin those wings upon my chest
Mark me as America's best
Though have to say, that I am gay
I defended the U.S. the American way

Yes I served, did so for 20 years, and YES I am also gay. The brave men and women serving this country are far more accepting that what most of you who are fighting to keep gays out of the military are.

In those same countries in question, "liberated" women are still very much a crime as well. Does that mean we should make women serve "in the closet"? Tell the women in the armed services that they can not be openly women if they want to serve. The more you unaccepting closed minded people say the more it shows that these prejideses are long outdated

Pin those wings upon my chest
Mark me as America's best
Though have to say, that I am gay
I defended the U.S. the American way

Yes I served, did so for 20 years, and YES I am also gay. The brave men and women serving this country are far more accepting that what most of you who are fighting to keep gays out of the military are.

Such bigots will always be around and seeking to continue to implement their bigoted way of thinking and living on others. For VA to try to stop or implement such a law would be a lawsuit perfect for a large settlement against the state in light of this soon to become a federal law as approved by Congress. His way of thinking is but a reflection of the ultra conservative religious groups that exist in much of VA and that are heard from many religious pulpits each Sunday there. It is all about the South still at war with Whites although a minority there wanting to still be in charge.

Bigots never give up. On the one hand, I hope it fails on the principle. On the other hand, it would be another badge of bigotry for Virginia. Virginia is pretty hopeless. From "macacca" to the governor forgetting about slavery during the civil war .... "Virginia is for Bigots" should be their state motto.

Send him to join the Taliban. I'm sure they'd love to have a bigoted, irresponsible, pandering, propaganda driven moron in their ranks. That's the commonwealth for you. Him and Cuccinelli represent everything wrong with politics today. Too busy biblethumping and pandering to their "own" special interdsts instead of the interests of the mass majority the were elected to serve. Like anything else in this country, major change involving the civil rights of a group doesn't come easy but is sweeter nonetheless when it happens.

Glad to see Marshall continue in his anti-American ways. Will Virginians allow him to spit in the face of thousands of our GIs? Of my 6 gays buds currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, 3 are out to their immediate squadron/platoon, which protect them and form unit cohesion around them against bigots like Marshall.

Glad to see Marshall continue in his anti-American ways. Will Virginians allow him to spit in the face of thousands of our GIs? Of my 6 gays buds currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, 3 are out to their immediate squadron/platoon, which protect them and form unit cohesion around them against bigots like Marshall.

Geez. I'm really getting tired of all of this crap. I saw a sign held by a tea-partier that said "which part of no don't you understand?"

Oh, maybe the part where more people voted for a Democratic presidential candidate than the other guy?

(and, just an interesting side note, Democrats, in total, have received more general election presidential votes than Republicans since when you add all the votes together since 1988)

Time and time again, folks on the right have displayed a breathtaking arrogance in asserting that their ideas are correct, and they won't listen to anyone else, or work together with "the other party" to find solutions to our country's problems.

This has got to stop. I know that many Democrats are dismayed because President Obama has compromised in order to pass legislation, but it's the right thing to do. Democrats cannot use the same tactics that Republicans use to get their way.

We, as Democrats, feel that all citizens in this country should have a voice, and not just those that agree with us.

So, I ask you, Delegate Bob Marshall, of Prince William county; What makes you a stronger arbiter of our country's positions than the United States congress? Do tell!

deejoshy wrote:
Geez, will the bigots of this world always be with us?
-------------------------
Yes deejoshy, as long as the good old boys in Richmond are running the state, there will ALWAYS be bigots amongst us!!

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Since Marshall defines militia as the National Guard, doesn't he disagree with the Roberts court's radical view that the right to bear arms is an individual right?

lol Did he not read the entire clause? It CLEARLY says that the military discipline is set by Congress, not by the states. The National Guard is a part of the overall United States military, they are not the private armies of the states.

What the homophobe Marshall, and all the commenters here, have failed to recognize, is that he explicitly gives meaning to the opening phrase of the 2d Amendment - "A well-regulated militia..." That well-regulated militia is the NATIONAL GUARD!!!! They're allowed to have guns, not the citizenry as a whole.

Can anyone remember this one thing - there are ALREADY gay troops serving in all of the services - and in the National Guard. Last time I heard, the VANG and VAANG were doing just fine - just like any other branch in the military...

His life's work seems to be to find as many groups to hate and discriminate against as he can. And he's been pretty darn good at it.

Marshall professes a belief in the teachings of the Gospels, but turns a blind eye to them at will. Here's Marshall with his infamous statement that disabled children are the wrath of God for abortions:

Please tell us who is running against this pathetic hater!So we can give $$ to the person who will,no doubt defeat this piece of cr@ p!! His ideas are more like the Taliban than they are American. I am embarrassed to be from Virginia!

How about we first pass a law preventing morons from serving in our State legislatures! From a Republican/Independent who lives in Prince William County. I hope I did not actually vote for this bigoted imbecile. Gotta be more careful.

I fully support Del. Marshall. The homosexual agenda has no place in the Virginia National Guard.

Posted by: den234 | December 20, 2010 9:53 AM | Report abuse

___________________
That's perfectly fine. If Virginia finds itself in a catastrophic Katrina-like event, it should prepare to help itself and not rely on the largesse or kindness of others, including Virginia citizens who don't happen to fit the mold of Del. Marshall. May your house burn first.

"In countries where religions and cultures find homosexual acts immoral, the Obama administration's repeal policy will work to the detriment of all American troops in securing local cooperation with our nation's foreign policy goals."
Um, our military is active in countries where it's considered immoral (and sometimes punishable by severe laws) for a woman to show more than her eyes and fingertips, let alone drive a vehicle or (gasp) work alongside males who are not relatives. Yet we have women serving in our military in these places. What's the diff?
Delegate Marshall's views would certainly be at home in such places. But this is America, and we are different. America - love it or leave it, Del. Marshall.

Why stop there Del. Marshall? It was completely unfair for the judicial, legislative and executive branches to force a racially integrated military down America's throat. The doomsayers claimed that would ruin the military and cause people to run screaming for the exits. Even though it hasn't happened and we've actually gotten rid of the draft since then, you'd better not take any chances!

It looks to me like under the State Republican administration that Virginia is moving backward faster than any time in history with perhaps the exception of secession in 1861. It took years for Falwell and Robertson to educate some of these guys and get them elected and now we are paying the price of religion starting to take over government. Between Kookinellei, the Gov. and some of these House members, Va. is starting to look like a state of fools.

I know too many wonderful, non-homophobic Ugandans and won't insult them with any sort of comparison. They too have flawed political representatives.
As a Virginia voter, I am appalled by Bob Marshall's proposal. Sexual preference has no relevence to ability to serve. Many gay people are already serving honorably. Non-fraternization rules are currently in place and being followed. I fail to see why Bob Marshall would insult our military with his flawed assumption that they are bigots who are unable to control their behavior. We are better than that and deserve better representation than he is offering.

Why do people like Bob Marshall and Sarah Palin hate this country? They get elected (Bob) or join the circus (Sarah), get people to follow them, give them US Dollars, and then they dump on everything that makes this country great: freedom, tolerance, openness, etc. Why don' they just go back to some Taliban-governed failed state and leave us all alone!

I know too many wonderful, non-homophobic Ugandans and won't insult them with any sort of comparison. They too have flawed political representatives.
As a Virginia voter, I am appalled by Bob Marshall's proposal. Sexual preference has no relevence to ability to serve. Many gay people are already serving honorably. Non-fraternization rules are currently in place and being followed. I fail to see why Bob Marshall would insult our military with his flawed assumption that they are bigots who are unable to control their behavior. We are better than that and deserve better representation than he is offering.

Yes, Santa Claus, there is a Virginia - unfortunately. I'm sure that Jefferson and Madison would be 'proud' of the mental midgets now running the Mother of Presidents. First came the Civil War celebration which implicitly stated that slavery had nothing to do with that same war. Next the Tea-Baggers and their appropriation of the "Don't Tread on Me" flag. Now these same Bozos wish to return to the Dark Ages and/or secede from the Union. As Yogi said, "This is like Deja Vu all over again."

den234 there is no homosexual agenda, even if rush and those who think for you told you there is. there is an anti-bigot agenda though. It's 2010, soon to be 2011 ignoramus. You and marshall should move to Iran you'd fit in much better. You don't deserve to live in a free country. You're not smart enough so should live in a free country, because like many teabaggers you can't think for yourself. You'd be much better off somewhere where the goverment will make EVERY decision for you. Hope a homosexual slaps you before the weeks out.

I can see Marshall stepping up in the House of Delegates in Richmond saying "After hundred of years, black people will now be considered people"...in 1860. Pay no attention to this oaf of a man. Decades from now, no one will give a damn that this fool existed.

den234 there is no homosexual agenda, even if rush and those who think for you told you there is. there is an anti-bigot agenda though. It's 2010, soon to be 2011 ignoramus. You and marshall should move to Iran you'd fit in much better. You don't deserve to live in a free country. You're not smart enough so should live in a free country, because like many teabaggers you can't think for yourself.

Just because you are "conservative" doesn't mean you have to have 12th century logic does it? Who is he to decide whether what the homos' do is immoral or not? Did someone annoint him King of Virginia or something? What a disgrace to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The bigger question is "Who are the retards that elect people like this into office?"

den234 there is no homosexual agenda, even if rush and those who think for you told you there is. there is an anti-bigot agenda though. It's 2010, soon to be 2011 ignoramus. You and marshall should move to Iran you'd fit in much better. You don't deserve to live in a free country. You're not smart enough so should live in a free country, because like many teabaggers you can't think for yourself.

"n countries where religions and cultures find homosexual acts immoral, the Obama administration's repeal policy will work to the detriment of all American troops in securing local cooperation with our nation's foreign policy goals."

So he's advocating a race to the bottom?
He should be made aware that in many of these places that women, justice, democracy, and many other things are held to be immoral, illegal or inconceivable. Maybe he would feel more at home in a jurisdiction under Sharia law??

I agree that gays should serve in the military, but feel that I should add a voice to Bob's agreeing with him in toto so that Fox News can say that there is a STRONG DISAGREEMENT AMONG ALL CITIZENS in Virginia with DADT.

Posted by: carlaclaws | December 20, 2010 11:33 AM |
****
Carla, thanks for publicizing that!
To hear from some people, you would think that part of it included forcing everyone to start cross-dressing, and singing show tunes!

My sincerest sympathies to the constituency in Prince William that had decided not to vote for him in the last election. He'll probably continue to claim he speaks for you.

go ahead....
Pick up the phone and give him a ring. You may need to remind him that forced segregation is illegal now also, lest he try to introduce some legislation in the commonwealth. (He should have left on some sort of high note a number of years ago....)

Virginia is working overtime to overtake its cousins South Carolina and Oklahoma as the stupidest, most retrograde states in the nation. Virginians should be ashamed and work hard to replace the grandstanding morons in your state's leadership.

"n countries where religions and cultures find homosexual acts immoral, the Obama administration's repeal policy will work to the detriment of all American troops in securing local cooperation with our nation's foreign policy goals."

Does he not get that it is "immoral" to be a Christian in the very countries he says will be offended by gays serving in our military?

He should do some reading about the "Dancing Boys of Afghanistan" if he wants to get the idea of how offended the power brokers in Afghanistan would be by homosexuals.

Virginia resisted inter-racial marriage until it was forced by the US Supreme Court to accept civil rights. That the bible is still being allowed to dictate legal policy is what is unacceptable. Do these fools know nothing about the origin of Christianity? It is the greatest lie ever told?

Jesus was a Jew, who attempted to lead Jews back to the Torah. He had no intention of beginning a new religion. Christianity is a political invention from the 1st Century that has been perpetuated by ignorant superstition.

Fools like Marshall would do well to study the history of the movement rather than blindly following years of unchallenged tradition. Christianity is an offensive movement, telling people they have no value, no worth unless first validated by an ignorant belief in an invisible, illogical, and un-proven, non-existent supreme being.

That this kind of political grand-standing is not seen for it's absurdity in the 21st Century is testimony to the ignorance of Americans in general, and Virginians in specific.

Where ignorance is bliss, bliss becomes the drug of choice and ignorance the cultural norm.

i am still proud to call myself a Virginian. However, ever since Pat Robertson started edumicating all these right wing idiot lawyers at that bogus university of his, I'm very glad I no longer LIVE in Virginia and have to suffer the consequences.

The UCMJ states: "(a) Any person subject to this chapter who engages in unnatural carnal copulation with another person of the same or opposite sex or with an animal is guilty of sodomy. Penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the offense. (b) Any person found guilty of sodomy shall by punished as a court-martial may direct."

So, now that we are no longer allowed to judge morality with regard to sexual conduct lets repeal the "no bestiality" law as well!!! Lets hear it people!!! Or, are you all hateful bigots?

Go for it bozo. I sincerely hope Delegate Marshall pursues this fully. Nothing could be better for Virginia then for him (and those like-minded troglodytes in his party) to advocate this law and others that would deal with socially divisive issues. Over the next year it appears that the economy will improve and folks will be able to focus on something besides their wallets. Just in time for fellow redneck George Allen to run for Senate and stand should-to-shoulder with the bigots of Virginia's Republican Party. I applaud Delegate Marshall's attempt to crystalize the choice Virginians will have to make. My bet is absent a lousy economy, the we-must-fear-everything-not-white-and-straight vote will suffer.

The citizens of Prince William should remove Del. Bob Marshall from office. He is clearly a menace to the greater good and is unfit for office.

Some quick research revealed that "Virginia is not listed as a recall state because its process, while requiring citizen petitions, allows a recall trial rather than an election. After sufficient petition signatures are gathered and verified, a circuit court decides whether a Virginia official shall be removed from office."

If a resident of Prince William would like to start the process, I'd be more than glad to contribute to the signature gathering process.

You don't like what Marshall has to say, so you would banish him to Uganda? You don't tolerate people who have a different opinion than you, eh? I'm not sure who is less tolerant, you clowns or Del. Marshall.

You don't like what Marshall has to say, so you would banish him to Uganda? You don't tolerate people who have a different opinion than you, eh? I'm not sure who is less tolerant, you clowns or Del. Marshall.

Posted by: PlayByTheRules
****************

It's clear that Del Marshall is the less tolerant. He's actually trying to get legislation that will discriminate against Virginia's citizens and impact people's lives. The peanut gallery here is just fantasizing and sounding off on a piece of software that puts words on a screen, leading to no detrimental action.

Barry Goldwater: "Everyone knows that gays have served honorably in the military since at least the time of Julius Caesar." He also said, "You don't have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight."

Goldwater also said in 1994 that the kooks were taking over the Republican Party. How right he was.

Many of you are mistaken if you think Del Marshall cannot turn this bill into state law that is held Constitutional. National Guard soldiersare State (title 32), not a Federal, servants, until it is placed on Federal (Title 10 orders).

Had the Supreme Court held that Homosexuals are a protected class then it would be unconstitutional for Virginia to require that its soldier not be openly gay. But because this issue has not gone to the Supreme Court, the state has every right to require that its soldiers not be openly gay while in Title 32 status.

If a soldier came out while in Title 10 status, they would still be banned under title 32.

This is a very interesting issue that will ultimately be settled by the Court.

Many of you are mistaken if you think Del Marshall cannot turn this bill into state law that is held Constitutional. National Guard soldiers are State (title 32), not a Federal, servants, until they are placed on Federal (Title 10) orders.

Had the Supreme Court held that Homosexuals are a protected class then it would be unconstitutional for Virginia to require that its soldier not be openly gay. But because this issue has not gone to the Supreme Court, the state has every right to require that its soldiers not be openly gay and/or practicing homosexuals while in Title 32 status.

If a soldier came out while in Title 10 status, they would still be banned under title 32.

This is a very interesting issue that will ultimately be settled by the Court.

Many of you are mistaken if you think Del Marshall cannot turn this bill into state law that is held Constitutional. National Guard soldiers are State (title 32), not a Federal, servants, until they are placed on Federal (Title 10) orders.

Had the Supreme Court held that Homosexuals are a protected class then it would be unconstitutional for Virginia to require that its soldier not be openly gay. But because this issue has not gone to the Supreme Court, the state has every right to require that its soldiers not be openly gay and/or practicing homosexuals while in Title 32 status.

If a soldier came out while in Title 10 status, they would still be banned under title 32.

This is a very interesting issue that will ultimately be settled by the Court.

If the State of Virginia decides that gays cannot serve in the Naitonal Guard, that's fine. There's nothing in the law that requires the DoD to just GIVE all the uniforms, training, guns, ammo, jet fighters, hummers, tanks, etc. to the state.

Virginians should start paying increased taxes now so they have the billions needed to raise their own army. An army that Uncle Sam is not likely to call up, since it would be so poorly trained and equipped.

The National Guard will not jeopardize its hard-earned relationship with the "big" Army by listening to cowardly idiots like Marshall. And by hard-earned, I mean by the loss of soldier lives.

Let Marshall, a strict anti-birth control Catholic who runs his territory to suit his pope, strap on a gun and go into enemy territory before he makes rules for the thousands of gays who are doing just that right now.

By the way, to finance his political life, Bob is an "independent research consultant," meaning he's a beltway bandit, sucking tax dollars for some billionaire contracting corporation.

Quote from Bob Marshall: "The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children..."

I fully support Del. Marshall. The homosexual agenda has no place in the Virginia National Guard.
Posted by: den234
_________________________________________
And what exactly is "the homosexual agenda"? Is there a "heterosexual agenda"? Inquiring minds want to know . . .

Tony Perkins and his ilk kept harping on the repeal of DADT imposing a "radical social agenda" whatever that is. Does he consider Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Uruguay, all countries in which gays are allowed to serve openly, countries with "radical social agendas"?

I am so proud of our country for finally taking Saturday's historic step.

The National Guard will not jeopardize its hard-earned relationship with the "big" Army by listening to cowardly idiots like Marshall. And by hard-earned, I mean by the loss of soldier lives.

Let Marshall, a strict anti-birth control Catholic who runs his territory to suit his pope, strap on a gun and go into enemy territory before he makes rules for the thousands of gays who are doing just that right now.

By the way, to finance his political life, Bob is an "independent research consultant," meaning he's a beltway bandit, sucking tax dollars for some billionaire contracting corporation.

Quote from Bob Marshall: "The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children..."

That’s Bob Marshall, who never served in the Military, who said that the Haitian earthquake was God's punishment for practicing voodoo, and who also said disabled children are God's punishment for abortion.

Many seem to be overstating the DoD's ability/desire to punish Virginia if it maintains up till this weekend's status quo. The DoD needs the soldiers of Virginia, and it will not change its taskings or manpower requirements for soemthing as theoretical as this.

If Marshall, Cuccinelli and many other Republicans in Virginia State Government had to throw a dollar into state coffers for every hour they have spent on matters that have nothing to do with moving Virginia forward in the 21st Century, it would pay for the fixing of the roads.

Given the track history of "straight" men who have screamed and hollered about The Gays (e.g. George Rekers, Ted Haggard, Eddie Long, etc...), it is only a matter of time before this bozo is outed as a closeted homosexual.

This homophobic idiot is also the racist behind Prince William Counties draconian immigration laws. I would love to see him in an Arizona jail run by Sheriff Joe Arpaio. This world will be better off when scum like them disappear.

I found nothing wrong with Dont ask, dont tell...... When I was in the military, I could care less if the soldier next to me was gay/lesbian or what have you. I needed to know that you had my back as Ihave yours. The policy worked. Why do gays need to tell the whoel world they are gay..... I dont care.. what you do in your off time is none of my business. I have always wondered why it is soo important that a gay/lesbian needed to parade it and make it well known they are gay. As long as your happy, fine but just keep it to yourself. I dont go around screaming, I like women and I am proud. I am all about acceptance and I have many friends that are gay and worked dilegently in the military under the dont ask dont tell. now that it is lifted, these same people are still going to go as business as usual because what they do at work is different than what they do, when they take off the uniform and do their thing.

You know what I find amazing? Virginia has ALWAYS been behind the times on social issues. Up until 1967, it was illegal for blacks and whites to marry. A black woman and white guy actually had to sue in Virginia to be able to marry and the case was resolved in their favor in 1967. Virginia would have loved to have kept blacks out of schools. It is absolutely horrible that this man is continuing the tradition of bigotry and hatred. It is so sad.

Remember when blacks were not allowed to join the military? Why can't people who love this country be allowed to serve in peace? Why must hatred always be a part of how things work in Virginia?

The only thing which should be required to be straight in the military are the rounds heading down-range towards the enemy. Thank you Rep. Marshall. your foolishness will make it so much easier to vote you out of office. Signed, a straight Christian former soldier.

What a fool this so called "man" is! He just doesn't get it! I hope God fogives his bigotry before he dies. Probably some of his closest aides and associates are closet gays and he is blissfully unaware. The poor man is to be pitied.

The de-evolution of Virginia is happening on a daily basis. From McDonnell on down, the whole state is is on a slippery slope to state's rights insanity. Meanwhile, the majority of Americans are busy participating in contemporary America, which has no use for the kind of grandstanding being exhibited by kookincello and Marshall. Dinosaurs, meet tar pits.

Homosexuals didn't get piled into boats like cord wood and sent over here to work themselves to death.

Homosexuals weren't enslaved, denied the vote or barred from an education.

Being Black is an immutable characteristic, but being homosexual is not. Many, many men have dabbled in homosexuality then settled down and lived monogomous relationship with their wives--John Maynard Keynes for one. But other than Michael Jackson, no black I know of has ever stopped being black.

It's outrageously offensive to try to make gays out like they are the new blacks.

Homosexuals didn't get piled into boats like cord wood and sent over here to work themselves to death.

Homosexuals weren't enslaved, denied the vote or barred from an education.

Being Black is an immutable characteristic, but being homosexual is not. Many, many men have dabbled in homosexuality then settled down and lived monogomous relationship with their wives--John Maynard Keynes for one. But other than Michael Jackson, no black I know of has ever stopped being black.

It's outrageously offensive to try to make gays out like they are the new blacks.

I am not so sure that having gays in the army, which we already have, is what causes other armies not to want to work with us. Although it is the case that not everyone likes the Israeli army, which has formally had gays serving for the last 45 years. John McCain must have looked at the Israeli example to reach his conclusion that having gays in the military will damage our military preparedness.....

Once again, dimwits like Bob Marshall show how the people in their districts either do not give a damn who they vote for, or are simply too stupid to care. Same with the people in Fairfax County who voted for Kooky Ken and then helped the twit become the Attorney General over someone who had actually READ the laws.

As a former Air Force member, I served with several people who were gay and had no problems with then being in my barracks what so ever. Only dimwitted southern crackers/tea partiers would continue to have such silly, outmoded and down right bigoted opinions. Marshall is a blight on the Commonwealth. As one whose family roots date back to the mid 1600's, it pains me to see such stupidity in the Virginia legislature and government. As my neighbor says, with our current republican thugs (governor, atty gen, lt gov and legislators) we truly have a version of the Virginia Taliban.

Frankly, I would hope that the commander of the Virginia National Guards would resign loudly in the news and everywhere else if our arch conservative dimwitted legislature EVER passed such stupidity as this put forward by Marshall. I would gladly put my vow aside (when leaving the military) to visit his grave and provide water for the plants. Even though I swore that I would never stand in another long line again.

First Cuccinelli, now Marshall...these radicals are an embarrassment to tolerant, open-minded Virginians and make Virginia look like a laughing stock for the country. Vote these two out of office and bring back intelligent government to Virginia.

Contrary to what POTUS says on apology tours, America is still a Christian nation. Many would regard the potty language in comments to this article to be offensive. Unfortunately when dialogue fails and intellectual capacity is ilimited, there are those, particularly on the left, who revert to name calling.
Are those of us who hold Scripture to be authoritative simply "Bible Thumpers"? Without Scripture, Christian teachings would have been lost in the first century. Even denominations with a very truncated Biblical canon, i.e. rejecting the Old Testament, particularly ancient references to ethnic cleansing and animal sacrifice, not daring to study the book of Revelations, or dismissing some of the brief Epistles for whatever reason, would hold fast to the Book of Romans.

The first chapter of Romans has a clear exposition of the Biblical teaching on homosexuality, like it or not. It takes some extraordinary mental gymnastics to refute the teaching as though it were applicable only to ancient times. Liberals who dare blaspheme the Holy Scriptures would do well to read selected passages first. There are still many Americans who would agree with me.

WHERE do these Cretins come from??? When did Virginia become the repository for overblown alimentary canals? Why do the repressives continue to try and circumvent our Constitution? The residents of Virginia have my sincerest condolences on having Representatives like THIS nut-job!

I guess we can rest easy with Delegates like Bob Marshall making sure Virginians are safe from gays. Hey, couldn't he use the same rational to get rid of the blacks, jews, papists, or any other group that doesn't conform to his idea of how the world should be?

Mr Marshall should look at the British and Canadian policy on gays in the military...they have been serving openly for a number of years and as far as I can tell...gays do not present any kind of danger to non gay members of the military or national security...the real danger is all the killing that goes on in wars...now that is a very real danger for troops...

First of all, these headlines, including the DMV (Wash. Post) one, are acting like this is already a done deal and has already been passed, and are happy to throw insults at this Commonwealth.

Marshall is one delegate, and even Gov. McDonnell has now come out against it as not complying w/the US military. So please, hold your fire.

And for you people who act like only you liberal Democrats in N. VA are right and "progressive" all the rest of us are wrong and a bunch of "hicks" for being conservative, please think again, it is a difference of opinion. This has traditionally been a conservative state, and will continue to remain so.

First of all, these headlines, including the DMV (Wash. Post) one, are acting like this is already a done deal and has already been passed, and are happy to throw insults at this Commonwealth.

Marshall is one delegate, and even Gov. McDonnell has now come out against it as not complying w/the US military. So please, hold your fire.

And for you people who act like only you liberal Democrats in N. VA are right and "progressive" all the rest of us are wrong and a bunch of "hicks" for being conservative, please think again, it is a difference of opinion. This has traditionally been a conservative state, and will continue to remain so.

If Mr. Marshall had ever been in the military and sitting 600 yards from the enemy I would say the least of his worries would be the guy next to him eyeing him up. It's usually the people who have never served in the military, laying their life on the line, who are the most vocal about this issue. I would not call Mr. Marshall an American I'd call him a political oppertunist.

"In countries where religions and cultures find homosexual acts immoral, the Obama administration's repeal policy will work to the detriment of all American troops in securing local cooperation with our nation's foreign policy goals." -- For the most part, those are Muslim countries. The majority of western militaries allow gays to serve openly with no problems. So now we're going to cater to Islam, Bob? Isn't that what you social conservatives rail about on a regular basis?

"'The Constitution never would have been ratified if states were not reserved unqualified control of the militia, now called the National Guard,' he said." -- Bob is what's commonly referred to as a moron. There are classes of militia - both organized and not. The National Guard wasn't created until the 20th century, and it can be federalized any time.

"In countries where religions and cultures find homosexual acts immoral, the Obama administration's repeal policy will work to the detriment of all American troops in securing local cooperation with our nation's foreign policy goals." -- For the most part, those are Muslim countries. The majority of western militaries allow gays to serve openly with no problems. So now we're going to cater to Islam, Bob? Isn't that what you social conservatives rail about on a regular basis?

"'The Constitution never would have been ratified if states were not reserved unqualified control of the militia, now called the National Guard,' he said." -- Bob is what's commonly referred to as a moron. There are classes of militia - both organized and not. The National Guard wasn't created until the 20th century, and it can be federalized any time.

I found nothing wrong with Dont ask, dont tell...... When I was in the military, I could care less if the soldier next to me was gay/lesbian or what have you. I needed to know that you had my back as Ihave yours. The policy worked. Why do gays need to tell the whoel world they are gay..... I dont care.. what you do in your off time is none of my business. I have always wondered why it is soo important that a gay/lesbian needed to parade it and make it well known they are gay. As long as your happy, fine but just keep it to yourself. I dont go around screaming, I like women and I am proud. I am all about acceptance and I have many friends that are gay and worked dilegently in the military under the dont ask dont tell. now that it is lifted, these same people are still going to go as business as usual because what they do at work is different than what they do, when they take off the uniform and do their thing.

Posted by: rvanags

----------------------------

However, if the Army finds out you're sleeping with a woman, there's no chance of you getting booted out. THAT's the difference.

Another homophobe trying to hide behind random gibberish. So, the Obama administration is putting the troops at risk in countries where homosexuality is frowned upon? So... should we start banning, I don't know, Jews from serving, seeing as how many of the countries in which the U.S. armed forces currently operate are anti-Semitic? Heck, Christians are being persecuted in Iraq as we speak. Let's ban Christians from serving!

It's shocking to me how elected officials can argue that letting gays serve openly will in any way be to the detriment of the armed forces when so many countries already allow for it without incident. Are these idiots arguing that U.S. soldiers are just way more immature and intolerant than the soldiers of all of those other armies?

"Let's legislate discrimination into being because the Americans are stupid!"

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